Any lingering doubts over Simple Minds’ New Year show in Stonehaven have been blown away by event organisers.

Despite a sizeable shortfall in funding that’s still to be bridged, the message to revellers is: “We promised you a miracle – and we’ll deliver.”

The final bill for the biggest Hogmanay party in Scotland outside Edinburgh is likely to be close to £300,000 – with half that needed just to pay Jim Kerr and his entourage.

In an ideal world a big sponsor would come forward to underwrite the event but the clock’s ticking and the organisers are banking on a late surge of support.

The area is awash with companies who have prospered from North Sea oil and gas, and the kind of money involved would be a drop in the ocean to many.

One positive is that Open Air in the Square is in line for a slice of £350,000 to be shared out by the Scottish Government among 19 winter festivals across the country.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government confirmed last night that they will receive £10,000 from the pot.

Open Air in the Square secretary Lynn Callaghan said: “We’re comfortable with the figures but we still need to raise money – there’s no doubt about that.

“We’re working hard, we’re still looking for sponsors and it’s a race against time to get there. We have all the staging, the lighting, all the licences, all the road closures, scaffolding, electricity, rubbish, toilets, absolutely everything to pay for.

“We’ve employed G4S to cover security. Looking at all the things we have to pay for you can imagine that we have some amount of money to raise.

“Every now and again you have doubts and get disheartened and ask yourself ‘Are we going to make it?’

“But we’ll get there. The show will go on even if we have to hold fund-raising events throughout next year to cover our costs.”

The fanfare that greeted the unveiling of Simple Minds’ frontman Kerr at Dunnottar Castle earned the seaside town headlines around the world.

But preparations stumbled at the end of August when police chiefs feared for public safety as revellers swamp the town for the gig and the famous fireballs ceremony.

Aberdeenshire granted the concert a licence despite the Police Scotland objection and now there’s harmony between both sides.

Lynn said: “The police are working so closely and so well with us now.

“With the police are onside and working well with us it’s made a huge difference.”

Simple Minds will take the stage at 11.20pm but some can shell out £400 for a VIP package including a champagne reception with the band beforehand.

Ninety corporate packages, including a three-course meal at the Carron Restaurant and VIP seats at the concert are on sale now.